Two months after Anna’s death, the reader joins Sergei Ivanovich Koznyshev on his way to the Levins’ for the summer. His latest book comparing Europe and Russia has not been well-received. He has become newly devoted to the cause of Pan-Slavism, unity of Slavic peoples: in this case, specifically liberation of the Balkan states from Ottoman rule. He also remains devoted to the peasantry as the repository of a more authentic Russia and looks forward to this aspect of visiting his brother.

Sergei goes to the Kursk, one of Moscow’s main railway stations, and finds it full of men preparing to volunteer in the Balkans, and those who are seeing them off. He learns Vronsky, who he distantly knows, is among them. He also meets Oblonsky, who tells him he will find Dolly at Levin’s. Oblonsky is only distantly saddened when Vronsky is mentioned. The narrator notes when Sergei sees Vronsky, his face is “aged and full of suffering” (775). Levin’s friend Katavasov, accompanying Sergei, is less impressed with the volunteers. Sergei meets Vronsky’s mother at one of the stops, who explains that Anna has ruined her son’s life, and Karenin has taken his daughter. The countess asks Sergei to speak to her son.